Production of first and second generations aposporous gametophytes from Pyrrosia piloselloides (L.) Price frond strips cultured in vitro

Abstract

Second generation aposporous gametophytes were obtained from sporophytes derived from first generation aposporous gametophytes, which in turn came from the mature fronds grown from spores in the laboratory. Murashige and Skoog modified medium in 1% agar supplemented with sugar alcohols (sorbitol, mannitol), auxins (NAA, 2,4-D) and cytokinin (BA) promoted a higher percentage of aposporous development from mature fronds of Pyrrosia piloselloides derived from aseptically cultured spores as compared with those obtained from plants in the field. A method using 4′6-diamidino-2-phenyl indole and fluorescence microscopy correlated the deoxyribonucleic acid contents of the aposporous gametophytes and sporophytes derived from them with their ploidy level. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.